School board recall will not be on ballot

An effort to recall three Houghton Lake Community Schools board members fell short, as supporters of the recall did not obtain the required number of signatures on petitions that were approved by the Roscommon County Election Commission in May.

Each of the three petitions – one for President Tom Dean, Vice-president Dave Johnson and Treasurer Tim Scherer – required 1,613 signatures by Aug. 3, according to the Roscommon County Clerk’s office. Souder said he and his supporters collected 1,200 to 1,300.

“People have questioned some of the decisions the board has made,” Souder said.

The recall petition language, “Violation of board by-law 0166 that states the order of business may be altered and items added at any meeting by a majority vote of the members present. On 3/26/12 when a motion was added and carried without properly being added to the agenda without the majority vote,” related to the board’s March decision not to renew former superintendent Kevin Murphy’s contract.

Souder added that “enough people are still concerned” with the school system and that two board members’ terms are up in November, but the new superintendent should receive “a fair shake.”

The two seats that will be up in November are those of Paull Fry and Merry Maiani. HLCS board members serve six-year terms.